Celebratory night enjoyed in Mullinavat’s Rising Sun

The rafters were lifted in the Rising Sun, Mullinavat on Saturday night when a treasure trove of medals were presented to their champion camogie ladies and hurlers, writes Barrie Henriques.

The rafters were lifted in the Rising Sun, Mullinavat on Saturday night when a treasure trove of medals were presented to their champion camogie ladies and hurlers, writes Barrie Henriques.

Some 150 supporters packed the southern eatery as they dined, and some wined, and celebrated the achievements of their siblings on the playing fields of the county during a memorable season.

Pride of place must go to the camogie girls who completed the famous double of Senior League and Championship.

Already confined to the history books, the fame and status of the camogie girls in beating their nemesis, St Lachtain’s from Freshford won’t ever be forgotten.

In the league campaign the Rod Iron ladies accounted for the challenges mounted by Thomastown, Windgap and Lisdowney.

They bagged the title with a two-point advantage against the Freshford ladies.

Mullinavat girls went nap on the championship when taking out the St Lachtain’s challenge more easily than they expected, winning by 5-9 to 1-8.

It was payback time in every sense for the Mullinavat people as they had surrendered their double titles last season (2011) when falling to the Freshford ladies. Mind you, Mullinavat had relieved the Freshford ladies of the titles the previous year (2010), so one could bite lumps out of the charged atmosphere in the Rising Sun as the new chairman of the Camogie Board, Mike Wall presented the double lot of medals to the victors.

It was a tremendous achievement for the Mullinavat girls, who have an astonishingly talented outfit.

Many of them are currently inter-county stars and when you peruse the list of medal winners it is no surprise that they are winning titles.

Names like Elaine, Brid, Claire and Sinead Aylward, Michelle Quilty, who will captain the county this season, the Butler sisters, Fennelly sisters, Aine Kinsella, Joanne Quinn, Rebecca Habberlin and more are serious operators with great pedigree, and a greater talent.

In appreciation for work done, a special presentation was made by the girls to their three mentors, Jim Kinsella, Wattie Phelan and Andy Aylward. Talent on both sides of the white lines!

The new County Board secretary, Jimmy Walsh was on hand to present the medals to the winners of the South junior A, and South under-21 A titles. Who will ever forget the heroics of the under-21 lads as they strove might and main to wrest the county title from the grasp of the St Lachtain’s in a brilliantly contested county final on a bitterly cold afternoon in John’s Park.

With total sincerity one would feel that the Mullinavat under-21 lads have a tremendous future, and that their defeat in the county final will turn out to be a slight blip on the road to greater prosperity.

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